as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in whetted
to make sharp or sharper
honed the knife's blade to razor-like sharpness honed his crossword-puzzle skills by reading the dictionary as though it were a thrilling novel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbed
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of honed
Rina Nakano,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Rashford has looked the best against a low block, particularly with his inswinging crosses and the striker tendencies which were honed by Benni McCarthy at Manchester United.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Persuasion and influence, ranked highly by the WEF, are honed through pitching ideas and leading teams, with a focus on tangible outcomes.
—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Following his jail release in 1962, the burgeoning musician honed his chops on Toronto's Yonge Street strip, soaking up the R&B influences of the local music scene.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
The film was of course directed by a filmmaker who honed his craft and built an audience on a Google/YouTube platform, while influencers themselves are expected to use more AI tools in the coming year.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Glass’s coaches taught us in her method, honed through the years from a wealth of psychological theory.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Your skills really were honed there to try to fix things.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Verb
While students honed their skills at the Santa Monica studio for the last year and four months, Blanck found an old pilates studio in Pacific Highlands for rent, but the numbers just didn't add up.
—
Rina Nakano,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Rashford has looked the best against a low block, particularly with his inswinging crosses and the striker tendencies which were honed by Benni McCarthy at Manchester United.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Persuasion and influence, ranked highly by the WEF, are honed through pitching ideas and leading teams, with a focus on tangible outcomes.
—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Following his jail release in 1962, the burgeoning musician honed his chops on Toronto's Yonge Street strip, soaking up the R&B influences of the local music scene.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
The film was of course directed by a filmmaker who honed his craft and built an audience on a Google/YouTube platform, while influencers themselves are expected to use more AI tools in the coming year.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Glass’s coaches taught us in her method, honed through the years from a wealth of psychological theory.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Your skills really were honed there to try to fix things.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Adjective
-
In addition to the sharp shape, the coffee brown shade gives the bag a more elevated feel.
-
During male puberty, rising testosterone drives the cartilage to grow forward and meet at a sharper angle, while simultaneously lengthening the vocal folds and vocal tract housed just behind it.
Verb
-
That gap matters because the science on prevention has sharpened considerably in the past two years.
-
One of the joys of Air, down to the breathy purity of its title, is its contempt for design—an easy target, but one for which Kracht has sharpened his blade.
Verb
-
Brown alleged Wilhelmy rubbed her stomach, touched her shoulders and spanked her despite objections.
-
Flores says this helps prevent dirt and debris from being rubbed into and scratching the surface during the cleaning process.
Verb
-
Its grippy outsole offers reliable traction on trails and uneven terrain, while the soft eggnog color looks polished enough to wear around town afterward.
-
This sleeveless maxi is polished, but still has a relaxed and breathable fit that’s ideal for warm days.
Verb
-
In March, the administration filed a new lawsuit again trying to block California’s ability to set stricter-than-federal emissions standards for cars.
-
Lastly, Salinas had an active warrant against him filed in May for fleeing from police after a hit and run.
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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